Hydraulic clutch and brake



Aprl 28, 1936. FfE. sTAA-rs 2,038,613

HYDRAULIQ CLUTCH AND BRAKE 'Filed April 25, 1934 3 sheets-Sheet l PrilZS.. 1936- F. E. sTAATs 2,038,613

' HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filved April 25, 1934 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 Apri12s,193s. 'E E STAATS 2,038,613

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filed April 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ability Of a liquid within a chamber defined by a side plate I0 and tive .shafts are journaled.

Patentedy Apr. 191.56

UNI-TED STATES "PATENT oF'FlC-' Franklin E. Staats,

Hydraulic Appliance, ration of Illinois clutches and the object ofthe invention is tov provide an improved mechanism whereby the utilized to transmit motion from a. driver to a driven element. The nventionfprovides novel means for filling the apparatus with the liquid and also provides novel means for controlling the operation. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consists in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the claims following a detailed descripr tion. I

In the drawings.

Figure l isavertical section taken transversely I to the driving and driven shafts through an apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged-detail section-on the line 3-3 0f Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view, `partly in section, on the line 4 4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a detail section of the brake element showing the same in a position different from shown in Figure 1.

In carrying out the present invention, there is" provided a casing I which is cylindrical in form 'and' provided with spaced brake elements are mounted. Thisl casing I may be secured in xed position in any convenient or preferred manner and its side plates are each provided with bosses V3 within which the respec` The driving shaft-4 may be connected to any preferred form of en'- gine or prime motor and extends through the Iside of the casing into the central chamber thereof where it is formed with an annular ange 5 which is bolted to the rotor vIi. The inner end of the driving shaft is also-formed with a central stud 1 which ts within a bearing ring 8 disposed between the driving shaft and the driven shaft 9. The rotor 6 lits closely but rotatably which is formed integral with or rigidly secured to the side plate l0, as shown in Figure 2. This side plate I0 has a central 'hub l2 which is rotatably mounted within the adjacent boss 3 and is keyed to the driven `shaft 9,. as'shown. at I3. -The ring or ilange Il is nattened at portions of its surface so that it is eccentric to both the rotor and the casing, as clearly Figure 1, whereby cam chambers II a flange or ring l I ilar cam chambers to resist-compression will be Y partly in plan and4 that' offsets 2 in which the \its inner end bearing pivots to the Peoria, lll., assigner to Staats Inc., Peoria, lll.. a corpo-l Application Aprl 25, 1934, Serial No. '122,319 s `I(cl. 19a-12) rotor and the ange. The rotor is provided with a central chamber I6 which is circular in cross section and registers with a similar chamber in the adjacent side plate of the casing, indicated at I1. A control sleeve I8 is iitted around and 5 slidably mounted upon the driving shaft l and is equipped at its outer end with an annular head or rib I9 fitting within a ring 20. The inner end. of the sleeve is formed with a head 2l which fits closely within the adapted tov slide into the central chamber IB of the rotor when the sleeve is pushed inwardly.

The head2l is provided with a plurality of longitudinal openings 22 therethrough which will accommodate a flow of oil or other non-compres- 15 sblefluid. A lli-ng opening 23 is provided in the side wall of the casing and leads into the chamber l1, as clearly shown in Figure 2, a plug 24 being normally engaged in the outer end of the opening, as shown. A sealing ring 25 is iitted 20 in the inner end of the sleeve I8 about the shaft l and similar rings 26 are tted about the sleeve within the hubor boss 3 at the outer end of the boss.

Cylinders or chambers 21 are formed radially 25 in the rotor and, parallel with the sides of the respective cylinders, passages 28 are provided, saidrpassages opening at their inner ends into the chamber i6 and at their outer ends into the cam chamber l5 with 'which they happe at the 30 ly by an expansion spring 30 seated within a central recess or chamber 3| provided therefor in the plunger and having its outer end bearing againstthe outer end of said recess or socket and upon a small plate or abutment 32 which is disposed on a diameter of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the same. Ports 33 are provided in the sides ofthe cylinder 21 to establish communication between the cylinder and the respectively adjacent passages 28 an check valves 34 which;.are adapted to close theVV respective ports 33, will be understood upon reference to Figure .1; It will be noted that these valves are pivoted at the extreme inner end of the cylinder in the corners of the same and are of such dimensions that they will extend from their abutment 32 and either valve will be closed accordingly as the rotor is moving in one or the oppositet'direction. .The valve whic chamber l1 and is 10" d 4,5 inl the innerend of the cylinder are mounted is open -will rest against une inner face of the valve which is closed and ifthe pressure should be reversed so that the closedl valve will /tend toopen under thepressure, the open valve .will yieldv to the movement and will ride onthe inner face of the closed valve'toward the free end of the same and, consequently, will assume closed position as the closed-valve opens. j

When itis desiredtdll the chambers in and around the r'otor, the plug 24 is withdrawn and the sleeve I3 isvpushedpartly inward so that the head 2l will. clear the inner end of the port -or opening 23, while the inner ends of the pa'ages 23 will be partly, butnot completely, covered.` The liquid is then poured into the filling opening and will accumulate'within the chamber I1 and ow therefrom through the openings 22 into the chamber I6 whence it will enter ,the passages 28 and thereby reach the cam chambers dened by, the rotor and the flange on ring Il. When the rotor is initialLv set in motion, the' liquid, which may be in the cam chambers I5, will be caused to circulate by and around the respectiveplungers 25 in anobvious-manner, it being`notedthat the plungers are normally projected by the springs but will yield to the eccentricity ofthe ange II as the rotor rotates. .Some of the liquid will pass through a port 33 'into the cylinder housing the -plunger and will exert pressure upon the plunger 30 supplementing the spring to hold the plunger in projected position'. 'Ihe liquid, however, will bypass the plunger inasmuch as it will flow inward 1y through one of the passages 28 to the chamber i5 and then out throughgth adjacent passage 23 to re-enter the camlchamber. If, however, the sleeve I8 be pshed inwardly to the limitof its movement, the head 2I` will entirely cover the inner ends of the passages 28 and thereby cut oi the circulation or iiowof the ,liquid whereupon the ,plungers will be locked in their projected positions and will be unable -to yield to the eccentricity of the flange I I. e Consequently, the flange will be caused-tov rotate-with the rotor. The flange Il being fixed to the side plate III, the side plate will, of course, rotate with the flange and inasmuch as the side plate is keyed to the driven shaft 5, said shaft will be rotated to actuate the machine or element which is to be driven.'l The or oifsets 2 have covers or caps 35 secured thereon and within each oset or boss. and the corresponding cap is mounteda plunger 33 which constitutes a brake element, said plunger being slidably mounted vin a cylinder 31, formed in the oifset and the cap, and normally pressed inwardly to bear upon the Aouter surface of the ring Il by an expansion spring 33 seated, at one fend-,in the outer end of the plunger and having its opposite end .bearing againstan end wall of `the cylinder 31. :fw 35 are formed in the bosses and thev caps, at thesides of the respective cylinder, and the-inner ends -ofthese. passages open directly into a dared chamber 43 in the innercircumference ofjthecas'ingJ; as clearly vshown in Figure 1. `'1he1 out e ends of the passages open into' s valvechamber in the cap in which is mounted a. rotary valve 4|. Near- 'its inner end, `the plunger. 35 is provided with a diametric e or port 42 within. which is slidably nttedv a disk valve 43 whichis slidabl from r eng to-end of the liquid is flowing. 'At the outer side of the port er to permit liquid to pass from the port 42 to the outer end of the cylinder 31 and bear upon the plunger so as to maintain it projected to bear upon the ring H. A stem 45 extends outwardly' from the plunger axially through the spring 33 groove, a latch 4s is pivoeauy iii-.ted 1n the mayv of the 'valve and'is held'against its seat by a spring 49, the free end of this latch being formed into a hook` adapted to mate with and engage under the bill of the hook 46 so that, 'when the two latches are engaged,` the plunger will be held in its retracted position and' the brake willv lbe off. It willbe understood that the flange Il acts as a cam upon the several brake'plungers so that as the high part of the cam rides under theplungers, the plungers will be projected outwardly and if' the latch 48 be then in the position shown in Figure 5, thetwo latches will engage andv the plunge will be held f ree of the flange sothat the rotation of the elements will be unimpeded. The v alve is provided at one end with a trunnion `or stud 50rotatably seating in a socket provided therefor in theside wall ofthe cap 35 and at its opposite -end is provided with an. extended trunnion or shaft 5i which extends beyond the adjacent side of the cap, as clearly shown in Figure 3, sealing rings .52 andy a .retaining plug 53 being fitted in the side wall of the cap around said shaft, as clearly shown. A crank arm 544 is secured-upon the free end of the shaft 5I and to the outer end of said crank arm is pivotally at'- tached one endv of a link 55 which extends across to and at its opposite end is pivoted upon thecor-4 responding end of a similar cr'anklwhich operates another valve `corresponding in)all respects4 to that which has just been described. It will be understood that the number of cam chambers may be greater or less according to the demands of any particular circumstancegland that a greater or less number of brake plungers may be provided, as desired. The number of plungers-in the rotor may be varied also according to the size of thejapparatus in which the'invention is embodied or-other 'controlling circumstances. The cranks 54 and link 55 provide for simultaneous operation of all tha controlling valves and eitherl crank or the link may be'connected witha hand lever or` a pedal, or other talit'y, by which thevalves may be set, as desired.

At the lowest'point. of the center of thetop of each cap 35, there are pro.-

vided openings receiving plugs, such as indicated. at 55. These openings are provided to facilitate around the brake plungers mungofme and the cam chambers in whichbrake plungers operate.' Qne of the openings may be utilisedas a vent to permit escape ofair which would be otherwise trapped within theappamtus and inv terfere with the proper circulation of the liquid. 0f course, after all the es' and chambers have been filled with the liquitLi the plus; are so that all thecpeningswin b ecloaed and loes of the liquid will thereby beprevented. 'The port-or lining opening 23 is ofsuillcient diameter tope'nnit escapeof-anyairwhichwouldbectberwisetrappedintherotorwithoutn' revision of specialvent openings.

It will ,be that a,'ose,e1s A. 3

plungers are in active position, asshown in Figf ure 1,` the liquid-will be forced into the cylinders, at the rear of the plungers, and will hold them in the ange-engaging position so that the brake will beset and rotation of' the driven shaft will be prevented, and that the valve blocks one of the passages 39 so that circulation of the .liquid is arrested. en said plungers are in the posif tion shown in' Figure 5, the liquid may by-pa'ss around the plungers through the passages 39 and the groove 41 and will thereby avoid releasing the plungers `and setting the brakes. If it be desired to permit the engine to idle, the sleeve Il is drawn outwardly either wholly or partly and a circula.-

tion of the oil will then be permitted whereby the several gripping plungers will be bypassed and may move inwardly against the tension oi the springs S as they ride on the low parts of the inner cam surface ofthe flange I I. v

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will beseen that I have provided a very simple and compact mechanism whereby the brakes and the driving power will be utilized upon a common element so that .an operating mechanism may,

, be permittedl to operate or be quickly stopped and Just as quiclszly again set in motion without the provision ofcomplicated gearing .and without any jarring action or grinding noise lwhen working.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1.A A combined brake and clutch comprising a stationary casing, a rotor mounted in the casing, a ring disposed within the casing an'd between the same and the rotor and eccentric to both the'rotor and thecasing, and means acting uponnthe inner and outer .peripheral faces of the ring whereby thering may be locked to the rotor to rotate there-g with in either direction of rotation or may be held vagainst rotation while the rotor in either direction may rotate.

2. A mechanism ofthe type described comprising a stationary casing, -a rotor mounted in the casing, a ring mounted'between the rotor and thev casing and eccentric to both the rotor and the casing,`plungersmounted in the rotor to bear upon the inner surface of the ring, brake plungers mounted in the casing to bear upon the .outer surface oi the ring, passages being provided for conducting liquid to4 and about the plungers, and means for controlling-now 'of liquidthrough the passages whereby the liquid may be caused to selectively apply 'pressure tothe plungers or be bypassed around the plungers and the ring lthereby held against rotation or caused .to rotate with therotor.

3'. A mechanism ofthe type described comprising a stationary casing, a rotor mounted therein,

a ring disposed between the rotor and the casing ber to bev driven by the rotor land eccentric to both the rotor and the casing, plungers carried by the rotor, the rotor having passages parallel with diameters thereof at opposite sides of the respective plungers, a iillingpassage and a central chamber into 'which said passagesopen, plungers in the casing, a drivingshaft secured to the rotor, a sleeve siidably mounted upon said shaft and having a head at its inner end adapted to cover orunover the inner ends of theparallel passages in the rotor whereby liquid may be bypassed around the plungers or locked against circulation to hold the plungers in projected position, and means ini the casing to direct liquid to or bypass it around the plungers therein.

5. In mechanism oi' the type described, a casing, a rotor, a driven member disposed between the-casing andthe rotor, means'whereby said member may be locked to the rotor, brake plungers mounted in the casing to bear. uponthe outer surface of the driven member, means for circul latingl a liquid about the brake plungers or directing the liquid to bear upon said plungers, latches,

carried by the plungers and projecting outwardly therefrom, valves mounted adjacent the plungers,

and latches carried by the valves to enkse the latches on the plungers and hold them 6. Inmechanism of the type described, a y casing, a -rotor therein, a' driven member between f the rotor and the casing, means for 'hydraulically' coupling the rotor to the driven member.. brake plungers mounted in the casing to bear DOD-.the driven member and resist movement thereof, .pas-

sages in the casing for the circulation of liquid to and around the plungers, valves in said pas- .sages to-'direct the liquid against the plungers or bypass it around'the plungers. and latches on the valves to retain the plungers in retracted positionwhen the valve is in bypassing position;v

msm s.

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